Early Piety

Here is a tool to inspire early piety in the rising generation. This book is a series of sermons that pastors in Boston preached under the ministry of Increase Mather and his son Cotton. At the time of writing, Increase was at the end of his life at age 83, and his son Cotton was 58 years old.

They were very concerned about the loss of godliness in the rising generation. To meet this critical moment in the history of New England, they gathered eight ministers in Boston to address the youth directly. They did this through Thursday afternoon lectures.

This book is an excellent tool for young people to examine their souls. I recommend that all young people read this book. And, further, if possible, that their parents would read it out loud with them. I feel this would achieve the greatest good.

—Scott Brown

Give Your Whole Self

"It is to give up yourselves and all you have entirely to Him in your early days. You must give up your bodies and all its parts and members and especially the tongue to God. You must give up all your senses to Him: your strength and vigor, and your health and beauty. You must likewise give up your spirit, temper, and all your various appetites and passions to Him. And to be sure you must also give up your most precious souls, with all their faculties, abilities and powers to God: your imagination, understanding, reason, judgment, conscience, affection, will, and memory. Finally, you must give up all your knowledge, wit and ingenuity, and all the treasures and endowments of your minds. You must entirely give them all to god without the least reserve."

Repentance Delayed

"If repentance is delayed, you will not be brought to it without more pains and groans; more tears and terrors. The longer you sleep in carnal security, the opening of your eyes will grow more difficult, and the scene more terrible; more of Hell must be flashed in your face, and there will be more amazing aggravations of sin to rack the conscience, and rend the heart and consequently greater horrors will take hold of you. The stings of sin will be more in number and greater in pain, the wounds of spirit deeper and the workings of conscience more violent afterwards than in youth. Delays will not mollify the anguish but double the torment of painful convictions. It is wretched folly then to let go the present season. It is contrary to right reason which teaches us the wisdom of prevention, and forbids our doing that (however grateful at present,) which will lay a foundation for later sorrow and regret. How great then is your madness, O sinner in that by your present security in the day of youth, you are making work for a bitter repentance hereafter, and taking an unhappy method to render your conversion more dolorous and difficult, if you do at length obtain mercy."

“We need to feed our children’s souls. Behind the quaint language of the early eighteenth century, we find both spiritual milk for babes and meat for young men and women. The authors address the different relationships children have, and put all of life under the banner of fearing God. This book is a valuable tool for parents to teach us how to pray for and train our children, and a voice calling to young people in the wilderness of this world to live and walk soli Deo gloria! May God use this excellent book to instill true piety or godliness early in the lives of many. I highly recommended Early Piety as a book that meets one of the greatest needs of our day.”

"These sermons are unique in that they not only provide careful instruction in the gospel, but also, in the godliness or true piety that springs forth from it. If these sermons are read thoughtfully by parents and older youth, if they are explained carefully and diligently to younger children, then they are bound to bear an abundant harvest. Such a blend of gospel, wisdom, and piety is very rare."

—Paul Washer,
Director of HeartCry Missionary Society

It seems that 'mentoring' has become the means of replacing ' parenting' in our modern age. If you have often wondered how successful Christian families were raised back in the day, and the children were armed with a spiritual vitality which defied their years, you might want to pick up a copy of"Early Piety: A Call To The Rising Generation", Edited by Scott T. Brown (2016, The National Center for Family-Integrated Churches, 216 Pages).

Raising successful families does not begin in the marketplace, the school, or even in the church. Successful families begin in the home, and the pulpits of our land have a massive stake in training parents and children in how to be successful for Jesus Christ.

Brown takes a series of eight sermons first preached and placed in book form in 1721 by Rev. Dr. Increase Mather, and seven other ministers--including his son, Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather.

The sermons were clearly aimed at young people; young Christians, and how to tap into their faith in God during some surly times in the 18th Century. Brown--whom came into possession of a first edition bound copy of the work, was moved by its power and focus. It led him to bring this work up-to-date, including his own observations on the father-and-son preaching Mather men.

The Elder Mather's powerful Preface is a great place to launch the reader into the times and need for true piety among the youth of his day. It is also a great place to study the issue as it applies to our modern time. "Early Piety" contains many good explanations of biblical principles as it relates to young people and the subject at hand. Many of the scripture citations are KJV, which shows the underlying concern of the preachers to get the best from 'the olde booke' as God intended.

"Early Piety: A Call To The Rising Generation" is not only meant for pastors, but for fathers and mothers to share with their young people. Brown has produced a masterful work, which should find a place in many a home. This work is available from your local bookstore, or your favorite electronic bookseller.

—Mike Ramey,
Mike Ramey is a Minister, Reviewer and Syndicated Columnist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. On Line Reviews brings current and lesser-known titles to public light in the quest to re-ldndle a love for reading and thinking in a sea of modern technology. Feel.free to reach him via email at manhoodline@vahoo.com.

Sermon 2:
The Nature of Early Piety as It Respects God, by Mr. Wadeworth

Sermon 3:
Early Piety as It Respects Men, by Mr. Colman

Sermon 4:
Early Piety as It Respects Ourselves, by Mr. Sewall

Sermon 5:
The Obligations to Early Piety, by Mr. Prince

Sermon 6:
The Advantages of Early Piety, by Mr. Prince

Sermon 7:
Objections Answered, by Mr. Cooper

Sermon 8:
Exhortations and Directions to Young People

Preface to the Final Chapter
That You Might Receive Dr. Increase Mather's Testamony

Sermon 9:
Advice to the Children of God'ly Ancestors

About the Author

Scott T. Brown is the President of the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches and pastor at Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Scott graduated from California State University in Fullerton with a degree in History and received a Master of Divinity degree from Talbot School of Theology. He gives his time to expository preaching and local pastoral ministry, as well as conferences on Biblical doctrine and church and family reformation. He and his wife Deborah have four grown children. Scott helps people think through the two greatest evangelistic and discipleship institutions God has provided — the church and the family.